TURBIDE, COLETTE ANITA
Born in Jonquière, Québec, and raised in Havre-aux-Maisons, Îles de la Madeleine, Colette was the daughter of Cyrille Turbide and Julienne Arseneau. Predeceased by her parents and eldest brother Georges, she is terribly missed by her daughter Donna-Lyne "Dielle" MacArthur of Ottawa, (David); son Robert (Lisa) MacArthur of Grimm Settlement; her 8 grandchildren Madison, Nicholas, Annabelle, Dominic, Theo, Rosalie, Elliott, Dean; 2 great-grandchildren, RJ and Maeya; sister Gisèle (Roger), brothers Jacques and Yvon (Johanne); many nieces, nephews, and cousins; the children that were in her care over the years; and friends that were like chosen family.
Colette frequently reminisced about her idyllic
childhood memories. Helping in the family garden or stables, picking
berries, churning butter, baking treats, walking to the beach to play
with her siblings, cousins and childhood friends, and especially of
her father hitching the horses to the open sleigh, bundling the family
in blankets and furs, and travelling to midnight mass on Christmas Eve
with the jingle bells ringing. "La vie est belle," was her
mantra.
Colette was an independent, creative,
adventurous, and active woman with many talents and skills, among them
line-dancing, rug-hooking, knitting, tole-painting, woodwork, fishing
for arctic char, baking, cooking, canoeing, skidooing and most of all
consoling babies. No day was complete without prayer, a walk, and
accessorizing with jewelry. She loved children, nature, Christmas,
seafood, sweets, playing cards, fashion, time spent at the cottage,
the Canadian Arctic, brisk walks, and surprises.
As a young adult, Colette left her island home
for Charlottetown, where she studied and had her first exposure to the
English language. She went on to work for the Department of Fisheries
and Oceans, Îles de la Madeleine, followed by a job with the
Town of Schefferville on the Quebec and Labrador border, and lived in
Sherbrooke, Québec, and Montreal to work for
Hoffman-Laroche. She eventually settled in Nova Scotia to raise her
children and help run several family-owned businesses. Later in life,
she spent another 20 years in the North, delighting locals, tourists,
dignitaries, and miners alike, with her home cooking in communities
such as Gjoa Haven, Resolute Bay, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, and
visiting places like Grise Fjord and Eureka, often regaling her family
with stories of friends she’d made who, unbeknownst to her,
and we’d later discover, turned out to be folks whose
accomplishments could be found in the Guiness World Book of Records,
Scientific American, and National Geographic.
When she finally retired from her life up North,
Colette continued to keep busy and stay young at heart by nannying for
a dear family, working in a local shop, doing the many things she
loved, and always helping others.
There will be no visitation or memorial service
by request. Colette will be laid to rest in the place she loved best
and longed to return to, les Îles de la Madeleine, alongside
her parents and ancestors. A private family graveside ceremony will be
held at that time. Memorial gifts in honour of Colette’s
deep compassion for children can be made to the IWK Foundation at the
following link:IWK Memorial Gift. https://secure.iwkfoundation.org/site/Donation2?3040.donation=form1&df_id=3040&mfc_pref=T
Arrangements have been entrusted to R.A. Corkum Funeral Home, Wileville. On-line condolences may be made by visiting www.corkumfuneralhome.ca
